NEWSLETTER
So Tyler Johnson didn’t start the game, Patrick Kane didn’t finish it and the Blackhawks somehow hung around with one of the best teams in the NHL. If you can figure this one out please let me know in the comments because the Blackhawks got their lunches handed to them by two of the worst teams in the league over the weekend and then competed their butts off in this one and made it interesting much longer than many thought they would.
Star 1: The Goal Posts
After a solid first period in which the Blackhawks out-shot the Lightning 12-6, Chicago was completely under siege in the second. Alex Stalock was doing everything he could to keep the puck out of the net — and he got plenty of help from the posts behind him. The Lightning had three Grade A looks at the net that hit the posts in the first half of the second period alone, including the one below off the stick of Brandon Hagel.
Star 2: Alex Stalock
Look, I know this team is offensively (and defensively) challenged. But I really get the sense that Stalock is asserting himself as the No. 1 goaltender on this team right now. He’s playing with some attitude and making a lot of impressive saves. He can’t do everything by himself. He sure as hell can’t score. But I wouldn’t be shocked if he got a lot more run on the homestand with the days off between games.
Star 3: Caleb Jones
The Blackhawks threw us a curveball just as the game was about to begin. They had seven defensemen on the ice for warm-ups… and they ended up scratching Tyler Johnson at the last minute (even though he skated in warm-ups) and inserting Caleb Jones into the lineup. So… Jones was going to be the seventh defenseman, right? Nope. Caleb Jones was skating as the left wing on the third line from the get-go. An intriguing experiment to keep in mind for when Jarred Tinordi comes off IR. Skating primarily as a wing, Caleb finished the night with two hits, two takeaways, one shot on net and one blocked shot in 12:42 on ice.
